Jesus' Words from His Heart

Sometimes actions speak louder than words. They are the results of decisions made. We make decisions based on how we think. And finally our thoughts are directly tied to what we allow to saturate our hearts.
Jesus had a heart full of love for us. He always thought about and did what was in the Will of God so His actions spoke volumes for Him. As a teacher, He taught many things, and spoke of the wonders of God the Father Who sent Him. He directed 12 men, healed those who were broken and did so with words. There was a reputation that preceded Him due to the actions He would be known for. This is an ultimate proof that we will be remembered for the things that we do more so than what we say. 

Many say that talk is cheap. This means that to simply speak about something means little in comparison to actually do something about it. Another phrase is, "Don't talk about it , be about it!" All these phrases ultimately mean the same thing. Talking about change is easy and meaningless in comparison to making or even being the change that you seek in the world as stated by the philosopher Ghandi himself. Jesus spoke of the Will of God and intricately became the Will and the Way of God by living the example that we are to follow! Henceforth becoming the Way, the Truth, and the Life! [John 14:6] Jesus the Christ, the God-man, lived to die for us. His heart was so intent on saving us that He literally became a physical sacrifice for us. His actions were a result of what He was thinking, and His thoughts were in direct correlation to what was in His heart. We were His original intent. He loved, and is still loving us and He needs to know that we live mostly to die for him as well. We must die to the flesh in order to be raised in the Spirit! Glory be to God, because we were the reason He came...to save us. By words were we created and by the Word were we saved! God bless!!!

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Praise and Deliverance

I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.” Psalm 34:1

This verse is a wonderful blueprint toward how a  Christian’s attitude should be, in regards to acknowledging God’s goodness. Written by the man after God’s own heart, this entire chapter of Psalms [34] reflects on the solid belief and example of God being there for us. The psalter makes sure to always include God’s workings in his life, no matter the situation he finds himself in or coming out of. Perhaps the approach that David takes toward revealing God’s divine intervention causes him to remain or at times, return to being of the description given- being righteous. Blessing the Lord at all times, and continuously praising God no doubt increased the relationship of David and God.

Verse 19 mentions the righteous in that “Many are the afflictions of the righteous:but the Lord delivereth him out of them all.” David surely had his fair share of afflictions, but one in particular is believed to have been the source of his penning these profound words declaring his praise.

Before the poetry of this chapter, is a partial explanation making reference to an incident involving David and his confrontation with Abimelech. In the incident, David, in fear for his life, plays the role of a man gone mad, on the ground in the dirt, drooling in his beard. This image is shameful, to say the least, but it worked. His life was spared and he was sent away. God had saved him, once again. His life was spared and he explains further, “ I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears (v.4). He realizes his shortcomings, referring to himself in verse 6 as “This poor man” crying, when once again “the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.” The commonality here is that when in distress, the Lord will hear his righteous, and deliver them out…of them all.”

Thousands of years after these events,we too can find ourselves on the receiving end of God’s deliverance. We have but to ask, and in the words of Jesus himself, “it shall be given; seek and ye shall find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” (Matthew 7:7) In almost a mirroring of the image that David set forth in Psalm 34, Paul’s Epistle of Ephesians [5:20] reminds us to always give thanks to God for all things. We must remember who he is and what he is capable of. He hears us and delivers us from all that might oppose us. This deliverance is available by believing and consistently praising God’s name -always. David stated it perfectly in an earlier chapter. Psalm 9:10 says, “And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, Lord, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.” Beautiful poetry!

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Boldly before the Throne: Mercy

Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. Matthew 5:7

Mercy can be described as pity toward those who are in lack, or under strain. Mercy could also be a withholding of punishment or justifying action against someone of opposition. For a Divine or Heavenly explanation, Psalm 103:10 states,"He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our inequities." In other words, God does not treat us as our sins deserve, and our sins bestow upon us a penalty of death. But instead, God offers mercy and an opportunity to engage in and continue a close relationship with him. We should heed Scripture and "Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful." (Luke 6:36) We should follow God and do for others as He does for us- giving mercy and becoming merciful.

Songs of Mercy

King   David showed evidence that even though he was a great warrior, and king, he humbled himself before God. As made known in his praises of Psalms, and in his life story in general, there were many reasons for David in particular to do so, but one specifically- mercy. Even toward the end of his days, David acknowledges God's mercy and tenderness. He actually preferred to deal with God in  light of his transgressions, because he knew in his heart that God is a merciful God, and "His mercies are great." Man, however, especially in that day and time, was not as inclined to be so forgiving. (2 Samuel 24:14)

Back in his time of Psalm writing (Psalm 51), David recognized and asked for God's mercy. He realized his fault and infirmities, all the while knowing how forgiving God is and that He, in His "tender mercies" could "blot out [my] transgressions." As God did with David, so also will He do for us. God's mercy can be described as an undeserved pity given to us by our Creator. God knows that we are undeserving, but in spite of this, because of His loved toward us, decides to help us, and bless us, and grow us though we are broken and imperfect. This phenomenal gift is God's mercy. In order to receive this amazing gift we must go boldly before the throne.

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Christian Pillars: Prayer

Prayer, as mentioned before, is the Christians way of communicating with God. It is such a privilege to be able to come to our All-Powerful Creator and not only talk to Him, but to have Him hear us! By acknowledging and accepting what Jesus did for us by way of sacrifice, we have been given this wonderful gift- an opportunity to have a personal relationship with the Father and call Him "my God!"

"The function of prayer is not to influence God, but rather change the nature of the one who prays."
Soren Kierkgaard

Examine Your Heart
All we who are born-again believers have access to direct communication with God. This direct communication, or prayer, is made possible by having our sin, which denies our access, washed away. This in essence, makes us not guilty and therefore with prayer a relationship is established with God. There is no limit to life when prayer is included. And while prayer is the best and most sure coarse of action, when trying to obtain something or have a request made, it should be geared more toward what we can do for God as opposed to what God can do for us. True, He said "Ask and ye shall receive..." (Matthew 7:7), but before we make requests, perhaps we should examine our hearts and confirm that our wants coincide with what God wants for us in accordance to His will and His way. If that is not the case, then maybe we are praying the wrong prayer, with the wrong intentions, at the wrong time. Before we pray, we should make sure that our hearts are in the right place with good intentions,faith, and a correspondence with what God wants for our lives and not what we want for ourselves.

There are proper ways of coming to the Lord God in prayer. We must call Him in truth (Psalm 145:18) and He will be nigh. "Draw nigh unto God, and He will draw nigh unto you: cleanse your hands ye sinners, and purify your hearts ye double-minded." Mark 11:25-26 speaks to the thought of forgiving and in turn having God forgive you. This verse among others explain that with every action that we take to be closer to God, He will reciprocate. Einstein's famous third theory of motion as we all know says,"For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction."In a Heavenly context, Our Father who is perfect, and holy, and pure, and gracious, and merciful...will hear us. And from that point He can be " a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him," a healer of land and forgiver of sin for those who humble themselves, pray, and seek Him. This may require us to literally stop and take time to confer with ourselves. And after this necessary partaking, and we have have confirmed our good intentions and desire to correspond with God's will and way, it is immensely imperative that we proceed to communicate with God with a base of strong faith. We must believe that there is a God, that He hears us, and that if it be His will He will answer our requests. And while faith carries much power, "faith without works is dead."..............

The next Installment in this "Christian Pillars" Series will address faith and works. 

Thank you to all readers of any material from The Deception and the Truth Ministry. Thank you to family, friends, blood or otherwise. Also a special thank you to all those reading from other countries. The Deception and the Truth is not one person...it's us! Thank you again and God Bless!

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Think On These Things (pt 1)

Think On These Things

Those things that are of true importance are not those of the physical but those of the spiritual. We must see past the the carnal and tangible and see past what is of the flesh.In order to see, we must think and understand. And in order to think and understand, we must study to know in our minds. But beyond knowing in our minds, we must also, and perhaps more importantly, know in our hearts. I believe that the key to the soul is linked to the heart. Whatever is in our heart is a reflection of the direction of our souls. The things that we focus on will define us. 

"Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." Philippians 4:8-9

The above passage gives us an excellent road map toward the path that Jesus took. It gives us a list of things to think on. The author of this passage, the apostle Paul, lived this and is teaching us through such. Before when he was Saul, he gave in to the worlds wickedness, lies, and non-virtuous ways, only to "have his eyes opened" to the fact that the wrong road will lead you to Hell, but the way of Jesus will lead to God's glory and peace.

When all is said and done, those things that are corruptible and privy to decay will, in regards to eternity, fail us. But those things that are of God will set our soul on a coarse toward salvation through cleansing. Jesus sacrificed His life to give this to us. He only asks that we follow Him and do as He did. Turning away from decay, and heading toward a new path of life which guarantees growth. Nothing will be able to take this new path and growth from you because He who gave it loves you and would never take it away. Take a moment to pause and truly think about it. Jesus loved, died, and in turn gave...eternal life!

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Word of Life Missions Trip- Brittany Mickie

Word of Life Missions Trip- Brittany Mickie

Ladies and gentlemen. This is a wonderful opportunity to help God's will be done. Evangelism and giving are always blessed. Please click the link above and learn about how to support this trip and continue praying for my sister Brittany Mickie. Thanks!

https://give.wol.org/bnmickie

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Pray. Read. Do. (Christian Pillars pt.1)

Prayer is, for we who believe, a way to communicate with our Father and Creator. It gives us passage to be in the presence of God, and allows us to simply talk one-on-one with Him. Through prayer we are given the opportunity to take part in a truly intimate relationship with our God. In the name of Jesus Christ through the sacrifice that He became, we have been given access to communication with God. This in itself is important and amazing to think about! We, who are in no way worthy of anything remotely resembling favor with the All Mighty, are accepted and given solace in knowing that we can not only talk with the Creator but be loved by Him!

Prayer is communication with God, and when we communicate there is interaction two ways. Therefore, we should listen for a response. And the response will come from God through reading His Word and seeking to follow the ways of Jesus Christ. Everything that we need to know or even hear is addressed in the Bible. Many issues that we are faced with today are but replays in time with different characters. Love, deception, murder, betrayal, law, injustice, inequality, leadership- there are examples of these and many more situations in the Bible. We can learn from the best and the worst. God's Word is His response to the prayers of our lips as well as those of our hearts. The murmurs of our heart from situations that may be taxing on our souls are heard by God. In times of uncertainty and presumed inability to pray, God has already heard our heart. He wants to bless us and we have to do our part.

Even though God is as He is referred to in the Bible as being Omnipotent or All-Powerful, He will not just create a miracle to merely accommodate our whim. There is work to be done. To simply pray without offering or being willing to do anything to bring about growth, advancement, blessings and other such "requests" would be nothing more than naive. We must work for the things that we pray for with faith that God will bless it and that He will be there to catch us when we fall. Simply put, laziness is not rewarded. So faith without works is dead. Christians without an active faith are stagnant. We can not, for example, pray for someone to be blessed and not be willing to in fact become a blessing to them. Sometimes we must become the very thing that we pray for. Jesus Christ came to show the Way, and He himself was and still is the Way. What we do as Christians is not only done for others who are on earth in this physical realm, but also for God above, in the spirit realm, whom we have not seen.

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Boldly Before the Throne

“ Let us therefore come boldly before the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:16 KJV

To be bold means to be daring, courageous. Not hesitating or fearful in the midst of danger or situations containing an unknown resolution.

What would we have to fear? Why would we hesitate? To be in the presence of He who created all things, who has all knowledge and power. Power to do what He so chooses at a whim, and knowledge of all our faults and thoughts. To come before Him would be ever so slightly[sarcasm]... intimidating. Yet this scripture says, “ Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne,...” When we think of a throne, we think of a King or Queen or someone who has power and control. Perhaps one who has control of important aspects of our lives- finances, food, clothes, shelter, or even whether we live or die. For some, that throne maybe the La-Z-Boy in the living room, and the ruler, if you will, was Mama or Daddy, and all things mention were under their control from the food and shelter to life and death. The latter because of the phrase “I brought you into this world and…” That was something to fear. But I digress. This fear would be more so an awe-inspired respect. To know what the King has done and is capable of doing should slow us down, if but for a moment, to give him the impression that we are giving Him his just due. To come boldly would show confidence in a situation of unknown resolution. But is the resolution really unknown? Upon showing our confidence or being bold, we do so, not based upon our own merit, but…

Though Jesus.

Hebrews 10:19,20 says,”Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the Holiest by the blood of Jesus,  By a new and living way, which He hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, His flesh…”

Once again we are told of the boldness. This passage verifies that it is solely by the blood of Jesus that we can be bold in the first place. Throughout Hebrews, there is mentioned a reference to Jesus as being likened unto a high priest. But the greatest difference was that Jesus was perfect. Never had their walked such a man as He. Not only perfect in his ways, but He Himself becoming the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Giving intercessions for us, providing us a way to have relationship with the Father and Eternal Life. And for this, He was the perfect sacrifice...

For us.

If and when we accept the blood, accept the sacrifice and realize why we needed it, we become new. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature. Old things are passed away; behold all things are become new.” We have a new life, a new direction, a new method of reaction towards things and people that, simply put, rub us the wrong way. He has consecrated this newness or made it sacred and holy because He Himself is Holy. It’s like the Midas touch. Everything it touched turned to gold. Well, everything that Jesus touched with His life became new. It became better than it ever could be and we can be the same way if we just open our hearts and open our minds to the sacrifice- the acceptance and giving through normally unbearable circumstances. His body, much like the veil in the temple, was broken, torn and fell. And because of this, we have been given access to a new life, a new direction, new grace, new mercy, new help, new healing, new sight, new love, new joy. Old things are passed away, and through Christ's perfect blood, we too are made new and can therefore, boldly come before the throne of grace…

With God.

Value

You and your life have value. This holds to be true because Jesus Christ made it so. We have all equally come short of God's glory because we are sinners but Jesus paid the ultimate sacrifice for us all to become valuable. And he did so because of love. An unconditional love that had no boundaries and no special circumstances. Because His love is unconditional and without boundaries we should not hold boundaries to ourselves. Because we are valuable in the sight of God already through the sacrifice of Jesus, we should not depend on what others say to us or what others consider us to be to give us worth or value.
What we possess and what actions we have taken does not determine our worth. Good deeds do not increase my worth. The use of foul language or the consumption of alcoholic beverages does not diminish my worth. Having a certain body shape or certain physical attributes does not increase or diminish value. Past life experiences, misguided decisions made- none of these things determine value. But it is Jesus that determines our value.
My value comes from my acceptance of what Jesus did for me and my life in correlation with my repentance from the things that caused Him to be sacrificed in the first place. I am by no means perfect and in some ways I am no better than I was before, but healing is a process, change is a process, Christianity is a process on a path that I have chosen to take for myself. We are special because we are valuable to God and not because someone else says that we are. And no one can take that away from us.

Christian Legacy: Greater In God

Life is about legacy. A Christian legacy is the sum total of the good that you have done for God, and others. No matter where you've been or where you are, there is no better time than the present to make life greater. Greater for yourself and greater for others. This can be achieved by anyone. Even in times of trial, a simple smile can go a long way. Something minute such as an action of seemingly no immediate value may help someone else. Do the math.

Legacy is part of God's plan for our life. If there seems to be distance from God it is not because He walked away, but rather it is because we walked away. But by grace, God does not hold a grudge. He is there to help us. All we have to do is take His hand and walk in faith with Him. He knows the plans that He has for our lives (there is a plan for everyone) and for we who believe in Him and the power in simply saying His name, He desires abundant prosperity(Jeremiah 29:11). He is Great and can make our lives even greater than what they are now. "Greater is He who is in me than he who is in the world" (1 John 4:4) which means having God makes us greater than anything that is outside of ourselves.

We must leave a mark on the world. What will yours be? Hopefully it will be one that shows that you are hand in hand with God and His ways. A life that reflects the search to adhere to the ways of Jesus Christ. For it is He and He alone who is the Way the Truth and the Life. He is the only way to the Father. And with that access to to the Father we have unlimited access to power from the Creator; therefore, we obtain access to anything in existence that will assist us toward the achievements of an appropriate legacy to be left behind.

Our legacy should be a building block for others. Whether or not we try to leave a legacy, one will be left. So it is very important that we leave a legacy that is constructive and not destructive, focusing energies on those things that will build us as they may be the very things to build another. Perhaps important so because the inverse is true in the way of destruction. We are meant to grow in God and help others do so as well. That which is of God, is that which will build us up and make us greater, and through us make others greater, and through them make the world greater. Legacy.

Let's Talk: Thank You

Thank You God for where I am. I am not where I could have been, so for such I say equally "Thank You" and "I'm sorry." There is so much more that could have been done. But I , in my stubborn human ways, fought You and Your will. I chose to be comfortable and not a Christian, popular instead of proactive. I said "I love You God," but didn't really understand the Words... until I felt them. Playing the part became so easy. I played it so well that I convinced even myself. 

Deception I became.

Deceiver I did serve. 

Ruined my life, my heart and soul. 

For You I lost my nerve.

Lord I want to make it up to You. For all that I should have done, please endow me with the Spirit, so as to complete the tasks designated for me. I should have been more for You, for others, and for myself. The damage caused by my leisure Christian life replays in my mind, because all of my decisions did not reflect the life of Christ. Had I made decisions regarding my walk with Christ, I would have made better choices and elevated others instead of potentially bringing them to transgression. 

Aside from such, the past is the past and can be used to learn valuable life lessons. I could continue to find reasons to say "I'm sorry", but " Thank You" deserves more energy. Father God, Your grace and mercy has caused me to have a life full of opportunities of which I am no more than unworthy to receive. There have been times that I, in my own stupidity, came close to destruction, yet You delivered me. You continue to make Your grace available, when my actions would call for the opposite to be so. So as I speak to You, I thank You. For Who You are; who You are making me to be; the very life that I live; the progressions as well as the hindrances; persons who would advance me as well as those who would do me harm; for all these I give thanks and gratitude for which I could never be ashamed nor could I deny. You, the Father of all, have taken a portion of Your ever precious time and not only made me, but You molded and shaped me. Fall fresh upon me Lord, and I will do what is desired of me, to the glory of Thine Holy Name, now and even until this vessel shall be no more! 

"Now unto Him, Who is able to keep you from falling, and present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy,

To the only wise God our Savior, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever.Amen." Jude1:24-25

Where Is the Church? (pt.1) Christian Duty

"We've got to go and be a witness

To save the lost and fallen from the hit list.
Get this, give them total Truth, so they never will forget this
And they can claim a place where Holy bliss is..."

It is the responsibility of believers to bring souls to Christ. It is our mandate from God. In Matthew 4:19, Jesus declares that if we follow him, He will make us fishers of men- seeking to bring souls to Christ. We have been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb of God and given a new life as new Creatures. How dare we deprive an unbeliever of the same Christ who saved our wretched souls from a deserved punishment. Who are we to the unbeliever but one whom not so long ago was standing in the same guilty place yearning inside for the scent of atonement? 

"For all have sinned and come short of Gods glory." (Romans 3:23) Therefore, we by ourselves were not good enough. We were not deserving, except by Jesus interceding for us and enduring the Cross whereby we were saved. We are no better than anyone on Earth- man, woman, boy, girl, black, white, saved, or unsaved. We are not perfect. Yet He who was, and still is perfect, saved us. 

Nothing elevates one above another, therefore we are all equal. Sinners needing God's grace. There is no one sin greater than the others. Sin is sin, and if one keeps the Law of God and sin not, save one sin, he still transgresseth the Law. (James 2:10). This verse, in a way, puts us all on a level playing field- all sinners seeking God's grace. We, as Christians though, are to help align the minds of the lost to realize how they can be found, and given newness.

If we are privy to the knowledge of someone falling to sin, it is only our place to help them and not judge. Because the same standard of judgment that we use against them shall be therein used against us. 1 Peter 3:15-16 (KJV) tells us sanctify the Lord in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason  of the hope that is in you with meeknes and fear: Having a good conscience: that whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they might be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ. The NIV translates this verse by saying to revere Christ, and be ready to explain why you have hope. But to do so with gentleness, respect, and a clear conscience. Thus, causing those who spoke evil against you to be ashamed. Also, doing so would make us like Christ in word and deed, and give a good testimony and example as to what really being a Christian is all about.....

(We will revisit this topic in part 2 of this series. Until then we would like to invite you to follow us on social media. Thank you again for reading and God bless!)

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Your Perfect Plan

Take my heart Lord, break and move,
Tried by fire, my love to prove.
Please remove what would be less
Than what should be or not my best.
With my heart Lord, take my mind,
Perfect peace in Thee to find,
For without it, I am lost
In life's billows, tempest tossed.
Let mine eyes see blessings shown,
As I am Yours and not my own;
Blessings pure and undefiled,
Promise given to me Your child.
Speak, O Lord, That I may hear,
Whisper peace to still my fear.
Words that hold Your Holy Power,
Day and night, be hushed no hour.

Take my life and every blunder;
Change me to a different man.
For I know You're awesome wonder;
Place me in Your perfect plan.

Let's Talk: Grace and Mercy

"Greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world."

Dear God, give me the strength for which I ask, that I may do Your will. I want You to dwell inside my heart Lord, because You inside my heart makes me greater than he who is in this world. There will be nothing that he can do to me to break me or take me from your glory. So it doesn't matter what he does to me or even what I do to myself. Because Your ways are so much greater, and You have more power than the devouring lion. So he may try but he won't break me. It won't matter what place he puts me in or what place I put myself in, but the place I find myself in when I look to You and I focus on You. I may not know what place that will be, but I do know that You will elevate me above what I can do. There i will keep my eyes stayed on you just like the trapeze artists focused to stay safe and secure.

And You promised to bless us Lord, as long as we turn to You and give You everything; as long as we repent and turn away from those things that would break us down; turn away from them and walk into the direction of something that will take their place. A positive for the negative, light for the darkness, good for the bad, strength for the weakness. All we need is Your strength Lord. Sometimes we don't have enough strength to make it through some of these things, but we have to remember to look to you for that strength and realize that we can't do this on our own.

You never said that it would be easy, but You did say that You would never put more on us than we could bare. Therefore, we should press on and know that means You are there for us no matter what. You've given us strength, and when we become weak and we don't see any hope, the truth still remains evident that You won't put more on us than we can bear. And if we get tired and don't think that we can go on; if our feet become buried while kicking through the sands of time or the road gets rough, You are there to pick us up in Your mighty yet gentle arms, and hold and carry us. As mighty as we think we are to carry so much weight on our shoulders, when we become weak, not only will you carry us, but you will carry our problems. If You don't get rid of them, You will decrease their impact in our lives. You said "Come to me, ye who are weak and heavy laden and I will give you rest." 

So we look to You because You are THAT good. It's not because we deserve it-definitely not. But it's because You have chosen to give us what so many people talk about and so few understand until something happens- You have decided to give us Your grace and Your mercy. We deserve to die and forever be forgotten in the lake of fire and burn in hell. No sugar coating it. We deserve to be wiped from existence because we are dirty sinners. But the good thing is that Your mercy said "No! I made them. They are my children!" And You gave us the option and the will to choose. That's where Your mercy and grace falls into place. You gave us Your Son as a sacrifice. So instead of us dying, He died. His blood came from His body for us. His body was broken and torn for us. You gave Him as a sacrifice to suffer in our stead. What more could anyone do? You gave us life more abundantly so that we could actually live longer in the sense that actually matters. You are great for that! And that is a clear example of Your grace.

 You continue to give to us what we don't deserve (Your grace and mercy), as if we have deserved it the entire time. I didn't deserve it. No one living on this earth deserved it, but you still give it to us. And you're not asking us to do anything that is difficult. You are only asking us to do as we should do anyway, by showing gratitude and praise, and realizing that You didn't have to show us favor but You did. And You are only asking us to turn to You, and that is not difficult. There are people in this world that would ask us to do things far more difficult, maybe things that we should never be asked to do. But You asked us to calm ourselves, look inside our hearts, and just be still and focus on the things that we should want to focus on anyway-things that are positive.  Positive things like You, Your grace and mercy, which have been evident in our lives from birth and will be evident until the day that we die. 

Everyday You show grace. Food on the table is Your grace. Use of our limbs is Your grace. The song in our heart that we sing is Your grace. Even the hardships that we face are grace, because we can learn from these hardships and then give a testimony that someone needs, while being Your ambassador. I do not claim to be perfect. I have made mistakes. Some things that I am not proud of. There have been some evils in my life that have grabbed me and embraced me. There have even been some evils in my life that I have embraced myself. But the good thing is that I can learn from it. I'm sorry for those things, and that gives me the opportunity to look back and ask You God to have your way in my life with those situations and to forgive me and teach me not to do those things again. Give me the strength not to do those things again and therefore become a living testament and testimony to someone else as a living encouragement, because You are a living God. I know this because I see You and feel You in my heart. I see Your goodness that You've given me because it is so much. It is Your grace I see in everything. We don't deserve it but You give it to us. Your grace and your mercy.  

Anytime that situations get rough we should look to You. All of us. Because going through some things or being tested doesn't mean that we are being punished. It may be difficult to related this to anything less than punishment or torture perhaps, but there is always some good that can come through the cloud of uncertainty. There is always something that can be taught or learned, because tests bring testimonies. We should look to You in faith and know that we will be renewed. We should run with faith in our own respective races of life, and know wholeheartedly, and with confidence, that Your grace and mercy has provided an avenue of peace and reconciliation, that we may come to You via the Gift of Jesus Christ.

Knowing God and His Promises

As I rose one morning, I felt a certain uneasiness- physically (probably due to sleeping wild) and also spiritually. Being a human being, living in a tangible world, I began running down a list of things that would have my mind uneasy as I was sleep. Some matters of the past came to mind as well as new ones. So instead of dwelling on what made or caused the unrest I began searching for peace. The first thing that I did was listen to songs that were sent to me after choir rehearsals by the director. But I felt a conviction coming over me. This feeling was introduced to me by Pastor Bonita Cain who at the time also directed me to Psalms. So as I did then I also did again. I took up my Bible and read as I listen to classical piano selections. I felt that Psalms was a perfect choice seeing as how David, the great king, shepherd, and psalmist found himself in the same distress as myself.
During distress it is important first to keep ones head, so to speak. In all things, good and bad, we must remember that we can go to the Rock. David did so and was not as concerned about what was going on around him as much as God's promises. Because David had already experienced God's wonderful promises, during the times in which there were men seeking to kill him, David was giving God praise. It would have been easy for him to give up and speak anything but praise to God but he knew that if God rescued him from danger, unease, and distress once before, then He would do it again. David knew that God would keep his word. "Ask and it shall be given, seek and you shall find, knock and the door shall be opened unto you." Psalms 2:8-9 says, "Ask of me and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel."

If we serve the Lord with faith and fear he will not only deliver us from our enemies, problems, and obstacles, but He will give them to us that we may destroy them. The amazing realization in this revelation is that God, He who created all things, hears us! We lowly, who deserve nothing less than the full extent of God's wrath and chastisement, are heard! If we seek Him and turn away from the counsel of the ungodly we will be blessed and heard. If we turn away from the ungodly we are godly. David says in Psalms 4:3, "But know that the Lord hath set apart him that is godly for himself. The Lord will hear when I call into him." 2 Timothy 2:9 says, "Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, the Lord knoweth them that are his. And let everyone that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity." Also we find in John 10:14 and 27 Jesus says,

"I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine."
"My sheep hear my voice,and I know them, and they follow me."
In these verses, these instances show a proof or validation of a relationship. A relationship between a Shepherd and His sheep; the Lord and those that claim the name of Christ; David and God. Simply put, if we turn away from that which is ungodly, that which is not of God, and we claim the name of the Shepherd, claim the name if Jesus Christ, then if we cry out to Him, or we ask of Him, He will hear us!

There is another promise fulfilled also. Verses 14 and 27 speak of the relationship, but verses 15 and 28 speak of what manifests as a result of the relationship. These verses state respectively, "As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. And I give unto them Eternal Life and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand."

In closing, I would like to refer to Isaiah 53:4-6. "Surely He hath bourne our griefs, and carried our sorrows; yet we did esteem Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him, and with His stripes we are healed.
All we like sheep have gone astray, we have turned everyone to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on
Him the iniquity of us all."

Blessings (pt. 2): Faith During Patience

Sometimes, in regards to blessings, we have to accept God's "there and then" instead of impatiently reaching for the "here and now." Gods timeframe and ours are vastly different. ("To Him a year is but one hour."-Marvin Sapp.) If we should become impatient, perhaps then we should consider having more faith and look toward the Bible to give examples of having and retaining faith while waiting on what is promised. Abraham was told that his loins would produce a great nation innumerable as the stars in the sky. It would take until the adulthood of his son for this to manifest. What God promises to you He will deliver. This is the time when our faith must be unshakable. For the enemy knows what is promised you and will stop at nothing to discourage you into cursing yourself away from the birthright of they that follow Jesus. "...that you may have life and have it more abundantly."-John 10:10.

Faith keeps us stayed on Him. A belief with no proof (faith) in that which is not seen (God), with patience and action will in time manifest itself into blessings. And at that moment we, the believers, must give praise and honor to God, as is our duty. Great things happen to believers as well as unbelievers, but it is our responsibility to acknowledge where these "good happenings" come from. Spread the Word to all. "The testing of your faith produces patience.-James 1:3. I heard it said that Gods delay is not His denial. God wants to bless us...abundantly. But we must have actively working faith, be ready to receive, and then give thanks and due praise to Him.
Be blessed and be a blessing!

Blessings (pt.1): Patiently Waiting

"I thought I had it planned out, a smile that made me stand out
With happiness that wasn't due to me, now I'm a man down."
These are the lyrics penned by myself during a trying time of spiritual transition. Many of us know of God but we don't KNOW Him. It is because of this that we must learn of Him and His ways by experiencing Him up close. We are thus put into a position to be pruned by our Gardener. We are His beautiful creation. He has sustained us and made us to grow and must prune us. It is said that the gardener is always closest to his plants when he is pruning. Therefore, in times of transition toward our blessings, God must remove people, characteristics and attitudes, mentalities, or anything of the sort that would hinder or prove to be unproductive. Yet remember. This is the time when He is closer to us. Perhaps to get a better look.
The Heavenly pruning yields a stronger Christian with eyes and hearts open to the possibilities of an All-Powerful Provider. Blessings will be easier attained as ones mind is more stayed on the Father. But these blessings are dispersed in the time frame and leisure of He who has planted us.
If we reach for that which puts a sparkle in our eye simply because we feel that we are ready or even more boldly, we feel it is due to us because of some arrogant distorted reasoning, we run a terrible risk of being instead cursed and our pathway toward blessings being tainted. A blessing from God has no strings attached, in that there is no compromising, just reception. Should a blessing feel that maintaining it causes questionable reciprocity via actions or thoughts, then sadly it is not a blessing.

The Deception and the Truth

The deceiver is powerful. He has used his power to toppled many who have fought in yet the same fight as we- life. Breaking us down at our base for he knows that to do so will cause all else to experience his chaos and havoc with no falter and cause even the slightest of pressures to collapse the mind with the greatest of ease. Strong morals, Christian-based integrity and all characteristics of the same sort seem nill toward the cause of keeping a sound mind. But you MUST. Keep unto you a sound mind, for to do it not is to condemn your legacy and life's work to be tainted at the leisure of the dark one. Be heavy in your discernment, for too light a consideration in all matters leaves the doors to deception opened wide. Be sure to discern not only firmly, but most importantly, in the Spirit of God. As it is glorious to have sound mind and a compassionate heart, they both remain succeptable to the swift snares of the deceiver flung toward us liken to a dark arrow dipped in the lies and untruths devised by he who would desire nothing more than to see us fall. Perhaps doing so by the convincing offer which causes one to covet the bitter taste as though it were sweet, creating an addiction for the forbidden. The offer to be human. The offer to feel satiation where there is depravity; sight when blind, shade when scorched, speach when dumb. It is greatly pertinent to stay in and of oneself and remember that he, the deceiver is just that. Commit this to memory and forget it not, for he surely won't.
For as much strenghth that the deceiver has or rather would have it appear to be pressed upon you, it is not the will of the Father that you should fall. For this world and all thereof is His. By His hand was all made and by His Love it is HE, and not the deceiver, who has claim of us. He is the Truth. He is Love. He is Good. Therefore as He reaches to us we should seek for Him that we might receive Him. And thereunto, receive we Truth, Love, and Goodness. All these be the true desires of the heart. Upon these be the determining factors of ones rise or fall. Be ye drawn to them all together for the lack of solidarity is as the cooking pot being denied the stir if the spoon. For whatsoever ye are in search of actively, that shall one become even if only during the search. Where your focus is, there will your map be drawn to follow. But in all things seek ye first the Kingdom of God, and His Righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you. Surely, abundantly, pressed down, and overflowing.
All things of darkness are so due to the lack of something, and light is the presence of. Where there is Light no darkness can be. Darkness is weakened in the presence of Light.